Nursing Case Study for Colon Cancer

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Study Tools For Nursing Case Study for Colon Cancer

Cancer Quick Tips (Cheatsheet)
Pathophysiology of Cancer (Image)
How Cancer Spreads (Image)
Cancer – Nursing Priorities (Mnemonic)
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Outline

Enrique Hernandez is a 55-year-old male patient scheduled for his first colonoscopy in a hospital’s outpatient gastrointestinal (GI) center. He has a recent history of alternating diarrhea and constipation and unexplained weight loss. He vaguely remembers some relatives having the same symptoms and passing away from “something to do with their colon.” He saw his primary care provider who referred him to a GI specialist for further evaluation.

During the GI center screening, he mentions that he talked with the family further and his older brother recently had this procedure and was diagnosed with polyps. He asks, “What does that mean for me? Am I too late? Could I have done something differently?”

He then complains about the prep he had to complete prior to this procedure. He says, “That was awful. I may never get this done again because of that! What the heck are they going to do anyway?”

Critical Thinking Check
Bloom's Taxonomy: Analyze

What assessment findings in this patient are consistent with the need for colorectal cancer screening?

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Critical Thinking Check
Bloom's Taxonomy: Apply

How can the nurse best answer the question about the polyps?

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Critical Thinking Check
Bloom's Taxonomy: Apply

How can the nurse best explain the prep he completed? The procedure?

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Mr. Hernandez is screened and assessed by nursing and anesthesia staff and then taken to the colonoscopy suite. The GI doctor sees not only polyps but also a tumor during the procedure and advises the nurse to come to get him when the patient wakes up fully. He says, “He will have to explain he needs to stay in the hospital because general surgery is consulted and needs to operate.

Critical Thinking Check
Bloom's Taxonomy: Evaluate

What does the nurse anticipate as the next step in this patient’s course of treatment?

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Once the patient is fully recovered from anesthesia, the GI specialist explains his findings to Mr. Hernandez who agrees with a surgical consult ASAP. He agrees to stay in the hospital for surgery. The patient asks the nurse, “What if I have to have one of those bags? What am I supposed to do now?

Critical Thinking Check
Bloom's Taxonomy: Analyze

How can the nurse therapeutically address the patient’s concern?

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Critical Thinking Check
Bloom's Taxonomy: Apply

What should the nurse discuss in regard to treatments?

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Mr. Hernandez denies the need for further teaching. He says that is enough information for now. He says this is all very overwhelming, but he is committed to his plan of care.

Critical Thinking Check
Bloom's Taxonomy: Evaluate

What other specialist(s) does the nurse think may be added to this patient’s case? Why?

VIEW ANSWER
Critical Thinking Check
Bloom's Taxonomy: Apply

What should the nurse do before referring Mr. Hernandez for education at a later time?

VIEW ANSWER

 

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Transcript

Hey everyone. My name is Abby. We’re going to go through a case study for colon cancer together. Let’s get started. In this scenario, Enrique Hernandez is a 55 year old male scheduled for his first colonoscopy in a hospital’s outpatient gastrointestinal (GI) center. He has a recent history of alternating between experiencing diarrhea and constipation, and he also has a recent unexplained weight loss. He vaguely remembers some relatives having the same symptoms and passing away from, “something to do with their colon.” He saw his PCP or primary care provider who referred him to a GI specialist for further evaluation. During the GI center screening, he mentions that he talked with the family further and his older brother recently had this procedure and was diagnosed with polyps. He asks, “what does that mean for me?” Am I too late? Could I have done something differently? He then complains about the prep he had to do prior to the procedure he says was awful. “I may never get this done again because of that. What the heck are they going to do anyway?” With all of this in mind, let’s take a look at our critical thinking checks for our patient. They’re numbers one, two, and three below.

Great job! Mr. Hernandez is screened and assessed by nursing and the anesthesia staff, and then taken to the colonoscopy suite. The GI doctor sees not only polyps, but also a tumor during the procedure and he advises the nurse to come and get him when the patient wakes up fully. He says, “he will have to explain, and that he needs to stay in the hospital because general surgery is consulted and needs to operate.” Now that we have more information about Mr Hernandez’s case, let’s take a look at critical thinking check number four below.

Excellent. Once the patient is fully recovered from anesthesia, the GI specialist explains his findings to Mr. Hernandez, who agrees with a surgical consult as soon as possible. He agrees to stay in this hospital for surgery and the patient asks the nurse, “what happens if I have to have one of those bags, what am I supposed to do now?” Let’s take a look at critical thinking checks number five and number six below.

Great job! Mr. Hernandez denies the need for further teaching. He says, “that is enough information right now. He says, “this is all very overwhelming”, but he is committed to his plan of care. Now that we have this information, we can go ahead and get into our critical thinking checks number eight and number nine.

Great job guys, that wraps up this case study on colon cancer. Please take a look at the attached study tools and test your knowledge with a practice quiz. We love you guys, now go out and be your best self today, and as always happy nursing!

References:

Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and staging of colorectal cancer
Authors:Finlay A Macrae, MDAparna R Parikh, MD, MSRocco Ricciardi, MD, MPHSection Editor:Kenneth K Tanabe, MDDeputy Editors:Diane MF Savarese, MDShilpa Grover, MD, MPH, AGAF; Overview of the management of primary colon cancer
Authors:Miguel A Rodriguez-Bigas, MDMichael J Overman, MDSection Editors:Kenneth K Tanabe, MDRichard M Goldberg, MD

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Concepts Covered:

  • Gastrointestinal Disorders
  • Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
  • Digestive System
  • Upper GI Disorders
  • Emotions and Motivation
  • Health & Stress
  • Renal and Urinary Disorders
  • Respiratory Disorders
  • Hematologic Disorders
  • Urinary System
  • Emergency Care of the Trauma Patient
  • Oncology Disorders
  • Lower GI Disorders
  • Acute & Chronic Renal Disorders
  • Newborn Care
  • Hematologic Disorders
  • Liver & Gallbladder Disorders
  • Cardiac Disorders
  • Substance Abuse Disorders

Study Plan Lessons

Diarrhea – Treatment Nursing Mnemonic (BRAT)
Dehydration
Digestion & Absorption
Endoscopy & EGD
Energy Balance and Weight Control
Enuresis
Enteral & Parenteral Nutrition (Diet, TPN)
Epiglottitis
Esophagus
Ferrous Sulfate (Iron) Nursing Considerations
Fluid & Electrolytes Course Introduction
Gastrointestinal (GI) Bleed Concept Map
Gastrointestinal (GI) Course Introduction
Gastrointestinal Trauma for Certified Emergency Nursing (CEN)
Genitourinary (GU) Assessment
GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
GI Bleed (Upper, Lower) for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
GI Infections (C. difficile) for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
GI Surgeries (Resections, Esophagogastrectomy, Bariatric) for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
Heparin (Hep-Lock) Nursing Considerations
Hepatitis B Vaccine for Newborns
Hiatal Hernia
Hiatal Hernia Symptoms Nursing Mnemonic (Her Belly Really Hurts Following Dinner)
Iron Deficiency Anemia
Intussusception
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Hepatitis (Liver Disease)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Pancreatitis
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD)
Nursing Care and Pathophysiology for Ulcerative Colitis(UC)
Nursing Care Plan (NCP) for Abdominal Pain
Nursing Care Plan (NCP) for Cholecystitis
Nursing Care Plan (NCP) for Colorectal Cancer (Colon Cancer)
Nursing Care Plan (NCP) for Epiglottitis
Nursing Care Plan (NCP) for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Nursing Care Plan (NCP) for Fluid Volume Deficit
Nursing Care Plan (NCP) for GI (Gastrointestinal) Bleed
Nursing Care Plan (NCP) for Hepatitis
Nursing Care Plan (NCP) for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Ulcerative Colitis / Crohn’s Disease)
Nursing Care Plan (NCP) for Intussusception
Nursing Care Plan (NCP) for Stomach Cancer (Gastric Cancer)
Nursing Care Plan for Cirrhosis (Liver)
Nursing Care Plan for Hiatal Hernia
Nursing Care Plan for Liver Cancer
Nursing Case Study for Colon Cancer
Nutrition (Diet) in Disease
Stomach Cancer (Gastric Cancer)
Vitamin B12 Lab Values